Grown in the blue and red since his academy days, last season he was selected for the Japan national team along with Kashif BANGNAGANDE and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who both have a strong sense of confidence and awareness.
This year, the two who will turn 23 and 22 say in unison, "We are no longer young. We have to lead the way."
In the first part, we heard from the men who are trying to change the atmosphere of the Japan national team, about what they have gained on the top stage in Japan and what they value in their daily lives.
──What kind of relationship do these two have, even though they are close friends?
Kashif BANGNAGANDE Probably doesn't think of me as a big shot (laughs).
Taishi Brandon NOZAWA Well, I think so. I'm older, you know (laughs).
Yoshifu But, since we were promoted to the top team together, we don't have that feeling, right?
Taishi Certainly, there are times when I use polite language and times when I don't (laughs).
Yoshifumi It's a mess there. The first time we met was at FC Tokyo U-18, right? I think it was when Taishi came as a trainee from Okinawa and we met at the dorm. We played bingo, right?
Taishi The time when we talked properly together, I don't remember when it was, but we probably met at that time.
Yoshifu We naturally became friends, right?
Taishi Even now, of course, we talk about soccer, but usually we just talk about trivial things (laughs).
Yoshifu Yeah, just a bunch of silly stuff (lol).
Age-wise, Keishiho is one year older, but the two are close friends. Both players were selected for the Japan national team in March 2023 for Keishiho and in December for Taishi. Still in their early 20s and part of the U-23 generation, these young warriors have absorbed everything on the highest stage. And in the daily life of Odaira, they continue to maintain a high standard and strive to improve themselves.
──What is the most memorable experience you have had with the Japan national team?
Yoshifu My standards have really gone up within myself. I was called up in March, but unfortunately got injured and had to come back. However, being able to directly feel the speed and atmosphere of the top level was a huge experience for me. I still have that feeling and it has created a new motivation for me to want to go back to that stage and perform there. It has had a very positive impact on me.
Taishi When you go to a higher level, it's natural to think "I have to do more", and I also think the same as Kafu Yoshikuni. What I felt through national team activities is that top level players have a switch that turns on when it comes to a game. Of course, we practice to prepare for the game, but the atmosphere completely changes between practice and the game. It's not easy to give 100% in a game, but the national team players are able to do that. They have confidence and express their image on the pitch. Seeing that, I realized how important it is to be a player who can "impress" in a game.
- Can you tell me more about the word "standard"?
Yoshifu To put it simply, everything, but especially speed. Passing speed, running speed, decision-making speed. I was finally getting used to the speed of the J-League when I was selected for the Japan national team in March, but experiencing the top level made me realize that I was still naive. I was shocked to see the level of the Japan national team.
Daisuke I am a goalkeeper, so I felt that preparation is important. How much accurate information I put in before touching the ball. How much can I share and communicate with my teammates. I felt that I need to do more in that aspect.
──Have there been any changes that you have both experienced through your time with the Japan national team?
Daisuke We haven't played together in a game since I came back, have we?
Yoshifumi Although I don't understand the game part, Taishi has always had his own style in practice and in games, so even when he started playing in official games in Tokyo last season, I thought he could do it without any problems. I was really happy when I was chosen for the Japan national team. To be honest, I was surprised, but I thought he would be chosen with that kind of performance. Taishi was preparing well and hasn't changed since then.
Taishi Thank you very much. I don't usually hear these words, so I was happy to hear them now (laughs).
──What have you been valuing in your daily life in Koyabe since experiencing the Japan national team?
Yoshifumi I'm getting ready. I felt the Japan national team with my skin and once again felt the greatness of Yuto NAGATOMO, who has been fighting there all the time. When I see Yuto in his usual state, I can see that he is fully committed to preparing and taking care of his body. Seeing that, I thought, "This is the kind of person who can stay in this world." That's when I started to value it a lot more.
Taishi This is also my ideal image, but I think it's not enough to just be a skilled player. I want to be a player who can have a positive impact on the team. Yuto is a perfect example of that, you know that kind of atmosphere when he's on the field. That atmosphere has a huge impact on the team. Of course, Yuto has been fighting on the front lines for over 10 years, and I think that's why he's here now. I'm not in a rush to get there, but I've started to demand a lot from myself in order to have a positive impact on the team.
Yoshifu That's really understandable. So it's natural to improve all abilities, but I started to approach training with a good sense of "urgency". I have to do more, and that feeling is definitely strong. For example, when it comes to muscle strength, I think it has improved considerably compared to before, but when I am selected for the Japan national team or play against the Argentina national team in the Paris Olympics generation, I feel like it's not enough at all. So I do my best in every practice every day. Every day, when I go to bed, I am particular about not leaving anything undone that day.
The second part is here
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
